Immunity
Supplements studied for immunity.
Overview
Six supplements are indexed for immunity (19 studies). Reishi has the strongest profile (medium effect size, medium evidence, medium trust, WA 60; 4 studies), though the available summary is brief. Glutamine (WA 40; very low effect size, high evidence, medium trust; 5 studies) may support gut barrier integrity during hard exercise but does not reliably improve overall immune function in most clinical studies.
Vitamin D, Quercetin, and Blueberry (WA 44; low effect size, low evidence, medium trust) have low or insufficient evidence ratings. Blueberry consumption around intense exercise may reduce post-exercise oxidative stress and support recovery markers in one study.
Overall, general "immunity" supplement evidence is mixed and outcome-specific. See the heatmap and evidence reviews below.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
6 supplements for , and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
ReishiView supplement →
Consider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Reishi is possibly effective for Immunity.
Browse 4 studies
RCTEffect of Ganoderma lucidum capsules on T lymphocyte subsets in football players on "living high-training low"2007
In football players on a 28-day live-high train-low protocol, Ganoderma lucidum capsules modulated T lymphocyte subsets but performance effects were not clearly reported.
- Duration
- 28 days
- Dose
- 10–20 capsules/day G. lucidum
- Population
- Athletes
RCTSafety and tolerability of Ganoderma lucidum in healthy subjects: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial2007n=16
In 16 healthy adults over 10 days, Ganoderma lucidum 4 g/day was well tolerated with no significant changes in blood tests, ECG, or immune markers versus placebo.
- Duration
- 10 days
- Dose
- 4 g/day
- Population
- Healthy adults
- Participants
- 16
Controlled trialMonitoring of immune responses to a herbal immuno-modulator in patients with advanced colorectal cancer2005n=47
In 47 advanced colorectal cancer patients over 12 weeks, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides 5.4 g/day increased select immune cell counts and cytokine activity.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Dose
- 5.4 g/day
- Population
- Patients with colorectal cancer
- Participants
- 47
Clinical trialEffects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients2003n=30
In 30 advanced cancer patients over 12 weeks, Ganopoly polysaccharide extract 1,800 mg/day modulated immune markers including increased natural killer cell activity.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Dose
- 800 mg/day
- Population
- Patients with cancer
- Participants
- 30
Vitamin DView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Evidence is insufficient for this condition.
Browse 5 studies
RCTWinter cholecalciferol supplementation at 55°N has little effect on markers of innate immune defense in healthy children aged 4-8 years: a secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial2018
In 119 healthy Danish children aged 4–8, winter vitamin D3 at 10 or 20 mcg/day for 20 weeks did not significantly change innate immune markers versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 20 weeks
- Dose
- 20 mcg/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Ages
- 4–8
RCTWeekly cholecalciferol supplementation results in significant reductions in infection risk among the vitamin D deficient: results from the CIPRIS pilot RCT2015
A pilot RCT reported weekly cholecalciferol supplementation significantly reduced infection risk among vitamin D-deficient participants, though full trial details were limited in available records.
- Effect
- Benefit
RCTDifferent doses of supplemental vitamin D maintain interleukin-5 without altering skeletal muscle strength: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in vitamin D sufficient adults2012n=15
In 30 young vitamin D–sufficient adults given 200 or 4000 IU/day for 28 days, supplementation maintained 25(OH)D and IL-5 but did not change leg muscle strength.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 1 year
- Dose
- 4000 IU/day
- Population
- Young adults
- Participants
- 15
- Ages
- 18–45
RCTVitamin D, tuberculin skin test conversion, and latent tuberculosis in Mongolian school-age children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled feasibility trial2012n=120
In 120 Mongolian schoolchildren, 800 IU/day vitamin D for 6 months raised 25(OH)D and improved growth; fewer tuberculin skin test conversions occurred in the vitamin D group (trend, P = 0.05).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 6 months
- Dose
- 800 IU/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 120
RCTVitamin D supplementation enhances the beneficial effects of weight loss on cardiovascular disease risk markers2009n=200
In 200 overweight adults on a weight-loss program given ~83 µg/day vitamin D for 12 months, vitamin D enhanced triglyceride and TNF-α reductions but raised LDL cholesterol.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- 83 mcg/day
- Population
- Overweight adults
- Participants
- 200
BlueberryView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Eating blueberries daily before and after intense exercise helps reduce muscle damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation that happen after tough workouts.
- Blueberries increase the body’s own antioxidant levels and immune cell counts, helping muscles recover strength faster after resistance training.
- This means blueberry consumption may help people who exercise regularly feel less muscle fatigue and recover quicker.
Browse 1 study
RCTEffect of blueberry ingestion on natural killer cell counts, oxidative stress, and inflammation prior to and after 2.5 h of running2011n=13
In 25 runners, 250 g/day blueberries for 6 weeks increased natural killer cell counts; acute ingestion before 2.5 h running reduced oxidative stress (F2-isoprostanes) and raised IL-10 versus control.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Dose
- 250 g/day
- Population
- Athletes
- Participants
- 13
Tongkat AliView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Evidence is insufficient for this condition for Immunity.
Browse 1 study
RCTImmunomodulation in Middle-Aged Humans Via the Ingestion of Physta® Standardized Root Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack--A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Study2016n=126
An RCT of 126 middle-aged adults found that 200 mg/day Physta Eurycoma longifolia for 4 weeks significantly improved immunological vigor scores and CD4+ T cell counts versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Dose
- 200 mg/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 126
GlutamineView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Glutamine may help protect the gut barrier during hard exercise, but there is not enough good evidence that it meaningfully improves immune function overall.
- Most clinical studies do not show a reliable immune benefit.
Browse 5 studies
RCTGlutamine supplementation reduces markers of intestinal permeability during running in the heat in a dose-dependent manner2017
In crossover trials of 10 runners in heat, acute glutamine 0.5–0.9 g/kg reduced intestinal permeability markers during exercise versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 0.5–0.9 g
- Population
- Athletes
- Avg age
- 24±4
RCTThe effects of acute oral glutamine supplementation on exercise-induced gastrointestinal permeability and heat shock protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells2015n=7
In 7 active adults, a single pre-exercise glutamine dose did not significantly reduce exercise-induced gastrointestinal permeability versus control.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 5 g
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 7
RCTEffect of glutamine supplementation on exercise-induced changes in lymphocyte function2001n=10
In a crossover study of 10 athletes, glutamine supplementation during 2 h exercise did not prevent exercise-induced lymphocyte subset changes versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Athletes
- Participants
- 10
RCTEffect of oral glutamine supplementation on human neutrophil lipopolysaccharide-stimulated degranulation following prolonged exercise2000
In a crossover trial of 7 trained men after 2 h cycling, glutamine did not improve post-exercise neutrophil oxidative burst activity versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Athletes
Controlled trialDoes glutamine have a role in reducing infections in athletes?1996n=151
In a study of 151 athletes and 755 controls, lower post-exercise plasma glutamine was associated with more upper respiratory infections, but supplementation effects were inconclusive.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 7 days
- Population
- Athletes
- Participants
- 151
QuercetinView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Quercetin has insufficient evidence for Immunity.
Browse 3 studies
RCTEffect of quercetin supplementation on repeated-sprint performance, xanthine oxidase activity, and inflammation2011n=15
In 15 men, quercetin 1000 mg/day for 1 week did not improve repeated-sprint performance and increased fatigue decrement versus carbohydrate placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 1 week
- Dose
- 1000 mg/day
- Population
- Athletes
- Participants
- 15
Controlled trialThermotolerance and heat acclimation may share a common mechanism in humans2011n=8
In 8 men, quercetin 2000 mg/day blocked heat-acclimation benefits on GI permeability and cytokines during exercise-heat stress versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 2000 mg/day
- Population
- Men
- Participants
- 8
RCTQuercetin reduces illness but not immune perturbations after intensive exercise2007n=40
In 40 trained cyclists over 3 weeks plus intensive exercise, 1000 mg/day quercetin did not alter exercise-induced immune changes but reduced upper respiratory tract infections (1/20 vs 9/20).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Dose
- 1000 mg/day
- Population
- Athletes
- Participants
- 40
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.